FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY Death toll in Spanish train collision rises to 39: | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATALC | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PM Modi, UAE Prez pledge to strengthen defence ties STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 January S UAE President exchanged views on the situation in West Asia and extended their full support to all efforts for peace, security, stability and prosperity of the region. A letter of intent was also signed between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre in space and the UAE Space Agency for a joint initiative for space infrastructure development and its commercialisation. ‘’Under this particular initiative, we will look to set up new launch complexes, satellite fabrication facilities, joint missions, space academies, and training centres,’’ Misri said. A letter of intent was inked on the UAE's participation in the development of a Special Investment Region in Dholera in Gujarat. This is a mega partnership initiative that will look at the establishment of an international airport, a pilot training school, an MRO facility, a greenfield port, and a smart urban township, as well as projects related to railway connectivity and energy infrastructure. | Tuesday, 20 January 2026 Bengal SIR: SC issues detailed directions to ECI on ‘logical discrepancies’ in voter revision PARMOD KUMAR SC order vindicates TMC stance, says Abhishek: New Delhi, 19 January Madrid: Spanish police said Monday that at least 39 people are confirmed dead in a high-speed rail collision the previous night in the south of the country when the tail end of a train jumped the track, causing another train speeding past in the opposite direction to derail. The impact tossed the second train’s lead carriages off the track, sending them plummeting down a 4-meter (13-foot) slope. Some bodies were found hundreds of meters (feet) from the crash site, Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno said, describing the wreckage a “mass of twisted metal” with bodies likely still to be found inside. (Page 11) olidifying their relationship, India and the UAE on Monday signed a letter of intent to work on concluding a framework agreement on strategic defence partnership. The document was signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which they discussed various key issues, including bilateral matters and regional developments. The two leaders also pledged to double the volume of bilateral trade from USD 100 billion to USD 200 billion by 2032. The UAE leader was in India on a two-hour visit at the head of a high-powered delegation. Breaking the protocol, the PM received Sheikh Zayed at the airport before escorting him for talks between the two leaders. Although the two sides signed several documents, the most important is related to their intention to conclude a pact Several killed in blast targeting Chinese nationals in Kabul: Nitin Nabin elected national Jaishankar asks Poland not to fuel terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood BJP president unopposed Kabul : Several people were reportedly killed and others injured in a blast at a hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw area in Afghanistan, specifically targeting Chinese nationals on Monday. According to reports, the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed, and the cause and nature of the explosion still remain unclear. Security officials have not yet issued a detailed official statement. The incident was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Kabul Security Command, Khalid Zadran, in a post on X, saying, "An explosion occurred in a hotel in the Shahr-e-Naw Flower Street area of Kabul city's Fourth District, resulting in casualties." on defence partnership. The document is likely to send alarm signals to Pakistan, which considers itself a close defence ally of the UAE. Also, the pact comes at a time when the UAE is involved in a confrontation with Saudi Arabia over Yemen. Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri denied that the letter of intent on defence has anything to do with regional developments. ‘’India and the UAE already have a strong defence partnership, and this document is not in STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 January BJP’s working president, Nitin Nabin (photo), was on Monday elected unopposed as the national president of the party. He will formally take charge on 20 January at a ceremony at the BJP headquarters, which is expected to be attended by PM Modi & top party leaders. At the conclusion of the BJP president election nomination and withdrawal process, Nabin emerged as the sole candidate. A total of 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in his favor, clearing the way for his elevation. Of these, 36 nomination papers were submitted by various state units, and one by the BJP National Council & Parliamentary Party, which included the names of PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nadda, and 20 other senior central leaders as proposers. Party leadership, including PM Modi and Shah, had strongly backed Nabin's candidacy, making the elevation of the working president largely a formality. Both the BJP and its ideological fountainhead, the RSS, emphasise unanimity in leadership selections, say party leaders. Notably, the process was Japan PM announces dissolution of lower House, calls snap election AGENCIES Tokyo, 19 January Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced her decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, the lower House in the National Diet, paving the way for a snap general election on the opening day of the current ordinary parliamentary session. The decision to dissolve the lower House was taken on Friday. Addressing a press conference today, Takaichi said she intends to seek a fresh mandate from voters and has staked her continuation as Prime Minister on the election outcome. According to senior leaders of the ruling parties, polling is expected on February 8, with OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE CRITICISED TAKAICHI'S DECISION TO CALL AN EARLY ELECTION, ACCUSING HER OF PRIORITISING POLITICAL CALCULATIONS OVER THE PASSAGE OF THE FISCAL 2026 INITIAL BUDGET the official election campaign beginning on 27 January. The proposed election will be the first since Takaichi assumed office as Japan's first woman Prime Minister on October 21. It will also be the first electoral test since her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) entered into a coalition agreement with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) a day earlier. Takaichi is aiming to leverage her Cabinet's strong approval ratings to secure public backing for what she has described as a "responsible yet aggressive" fiscal policy approach, along with the newly formed ruling coalition framework, Kyodo News reported. The snap poll comes less than 18 months after the previous lower House election held in October 2024. Under Japan's Constitution, members of the House of Representatives serve four-year terms unless the chamber is dissolved earlier. Opposition parties have criticised Takaichi's decision to call an early election, accusing her of prioritising political calculations over the passage of the fiscal 2026 initial budget, despite her stated commitment to focus on policy implementation. response to any event that may have taken place in the region,’’ he added. Misri said that under the proposed accord on defence, the two nations will strengthen industrial cooperation, innovation partnership, training and education of special forces, meeting threats in cyberspace and counter-terrorism. “The proposed pact is a natural evolution of the already strong defence partnership,’’ he added. The foreign secretary said the PM and the visiting initiated after the election of 30 out of 36 state presidents, exceeding the minimum requirement of 50 per cent. On 16 January, the notification of the schedule of events was issued, and the electoral roll was published. “In all, 37 sets of nomination papers were received in favour of Nitin Nabin for the post of National President. On scrutiny, all sets were found to be duly filled in the required format and were valid. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity as National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, BJP I hereby announce that only one name, that of Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of BJP,” stated K. Laxman, National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, BJP. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make public the names of nearly 1.25 crore voters in West Bengal against whom the poll body has raised objections under the “logical discrepancy” category during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that close to two crore voters have been issued notices seeking verification of documents as part of the SIR exercise. The objections, the Court observed, have been classified into three categories: mapped, unmapped and logical discrepancy. Explaining the nature of discrepancies, the Bench recorded that the objections include mismatches in parents’ names, inconsistencies in the age of parents and STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 January External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday asked Poland in unequivocal terms not to help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan by collaborating with India’s hostile neighbour in various key sectors, including defence and trade. At a meeting here with visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, he said, “Poland should display zero-tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood.’’ He noted that Poland is no stranger to this region and is certainly familiar with the long-standing challenge of cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar’s strong remarks came since Sikorski travelled to Pakistan in October last year and expressed more enthusiasm than other European nations to intensify cooperation with Islamabad. He told the Pakistani leadership that Poland is keen to collaborate with Islamabad in trade, investment, education and counter-terrorism. The two countries also pledged to grandparents, and similar anomalies flagged by the ECI. Given the magnitude of the exercise, the Court ordered that the list of voters falling under the “logical discrepancy” category be displayed at gram panchayat offices, block offices and municipal ward offices. The Bench further directed that objections be invited within ten days, followed by adequate time for submission of supporting documents. “Wherever the document is not found satisfactory… such persons shall be given an opportunity to present documents and also be heard at that very time in person or through authorised representative present with the voter,” the Court directed. transform their relationship into a ‘’comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership.’’ Jaishankar also reiterated India's stance on the Ukraine conflict and termed "selective targeting" of New Delhi "unfair and unjustified." He said the targeting is not limited to tariffs and there have been other forms of selective targeting. Jaishankar noted that he and the Polish minister are meeting at a time when the world is under considerable churn and stressed that it is useful to exchange views and perspectives as India and Poland are two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities. "Today, our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments. In particular, an exchange of Kolkata: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee welcomed the SC direction to the ECI to publish the list of the people whose names have come under the ‘logical discrepancy’ category. While addressing a rally at Barasat this afternoon, he hailed the order, which has stated that a list containing names of logical discrepancy and unmapped voters to be put up. He said that a TMC delegation had demanded the list of 1.35 cr people harassed in the name of logical discrepancy be published. “The ECI had refused to publish it as that would have exposed the BJP,” said Abhishek, adding, “The BJP’s game is over. This is the victory of Ma Mati Manush and the people of Bengal,” he said. assessments on our respective neighbourhoods would be useful. You have been speaking about it publicly during your visit as well," he said. "In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," he added. He stated that Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe, adding that the bilateral trade stands at about $7 billion. He mentioned that Indian investment in Poland has surpassed $3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles. Army Special Forces havaldar killed in Kishtwar anti-terror operation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jammu, 19 January Indian Army's Special Forces Havaldar was martyred in the ongoing encounter with Pakistani terrorists in the forests of Chatroo in the Kishtwar district, the White Knight Corps of the Army said on Monday. The soldier, Gajendra Singh (photo), was critically wounded during the encounter with terrorists last evening and shifted to the military hospital at Udhampur, where he succumbed to his injuries. Seven other soldiers were also injured when terrorists lobbed grenades at them. The White Knight Corps wrote on X; "The GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a counterterrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the night of 19 Jan 2026". "We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief," the Army said. With the first sunlight this morning, Army helicopters were pressed into service as security forces resumed the search and cordon operation in Kishtwar district to track down a group of terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of the area, officials said. The operation, launched on Sunday in the Sonar village area near Mandral–Singhpura in the Chatroo sector, was suspended late Sunday night due to difficult terrain and poor visibility. The joint teams of the Army, police, and paramilitary forces resumed the operation and tightened the cordon to prevent any escape, officials said. Drones and sniffer dogs are being used to comb the densely forested area, while army helicopters are conducting sorties to maintain aerial surveillance over the operation zone. According to intelligence inputs, two to three terrorists, suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based JeM, are believed to be trapped in the area. Officials said there had been no fresh contact with the terrorists since yesterday's exchange of fire. Contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Sonar, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations along with J&K Police. Troops displayed exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies, an Army spokesman added.